DEMOREST, Ga.--- In their first ever Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) match-up, the Asbury women's basketball team (3-7, 0-1 CCS) fell to Piedmont University (6-5, 2-0 CCS) 78-73 on Saturday afternoon. Four different Eagles scored in double-digits, scoring 73 points which tied a season-high for the squad.
Leading the scoring was
Camryn Preston for the second straight game. Preston netted 17 points on 4-11 from the field and a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. She also added a team-high nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
AU was paced in scoring by reigning CCS Rookie of the Week
Emily Sizemore who added 15 points (5-7 FG, 2-3 3PT). Sizemore also dished four assists and grabbed three rebounds.
Haleigh Releford and
Juleigh Anne Tucker rounded out the scoring with 10 and 12 respectively. Releford adding three rebounds and Tucker converting 4-8 from beyond the arc.
Asbury took a 30-25 lead into the break, controlling the pace for much of the half. The Asbury defense was stout in the half, keeping the Lions at just 31% from the field and 18% from three.
PU took advantage in the third quarter, scoring 31 points on 11-15 team shooting and a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line. AU's offense was impressive in its own right during the frame scoring 26 points on 8-15 shooting, leaving things knotted at 56 apiece into the fourth.
Asbury held a 73-72 lead at 1:07 left in the game after a
Haleigh Releford made free throw. The Lions would score the final six points of the game on four made free throws and a made layup, taking a 78-73 win.
Piedmont was led in scoring by Alexandria Willis' 16 points and Andelin Hill who added 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Lions out-scored the Eagles in the paint 36-20 and held a lead in the rebounding department 39-36. AU caused 18 PU turnovers on 10 steals, the Lions turned Asbury over 18 times on 11 steals.
There were 12 total lead changes and seven times the score was tied throughout the competitive affair.
Piedmont moves to 2-0 in the league, while Asbury drops their first match up falling to 0-1.
The two teams will meet back up in Wilmore on January 25.
Asbury continues CCS play on Tuesday, hosting Covenant in Wilmore at 5 PM.
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Camryn Preston | 17 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL, 2 BLK
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Emily Sizemore | 15 PTS (5-7 FG, 2-3 3PT), 4 AST
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Juleigh Anne Tucker | 12 PTS (4-8 3PT)
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Haleigh Releford | 10 PTS, 3 REB
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Ma'Kiya West | 7 PTS, 5 REB
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Morgan Flannery | 6 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL
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